How to Play Pitaco

Grok Games · Board game · 2025
3–6 30–45 min Weight 1.0/5
7.8 rating Ludopedia
8.0 rating BGG

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Step by step

Game Objective

In Pitaco, players take on two roles: Host and Guessers. The goal is to guess the Secret Adjectives using only nonverbal clues given by the Host through Intensity Markers. The game lasts a number of rounds equal to the number of players. Whoever accumulates the most points by the end wins!

Setup

  1. Place the Board in the center.
  2. Each player chooses a color and receives 10 Guess Cards and a Score Marker.
  3. Position the Score Markers on space 0 of the track.
  4. Arrange the yellow (A-E) and red (F-J) Letter Tokens in rows below the board.
  5. Shuffle the Adjective Cards and place one above each token.
  6. The player who watched a game show most recently will be the first Host and receives the 10 Intensity Markers.

Game Flow

Each round has 4 phases:

  1. Determine Secret Adjectives: The Host draws one card of each color (yellow/red) to set the secret adjectives.
  2. Give Clues and Guess: Guessers choose a character, the Host places intensity markers, and everyone guesses simultaneously.
  3. Scoring: Points are awarded if someone guesses both adjectives correctly.
  4. End of Round: Prepare for the next round or end the game.

Actions and How to Play

Phase 1: Determine Secret Adjectives

The Host shuffles their Guess Cards by color, draws one of each, and checks the Secret Adjectives corresponding to the drawn tokens.

Phase 2: Give Clues and Guess

  • The first Guesser chooses a character and writes their name on the board.
  • The Host places the Intensity Markers (yellow for the yellow adjective, red for the red one) without speaking or pointing.
  • All Guessers select two Guess Cards (one of each color) and reveal them simultaneously.
  • If someone guesses both adjectives correctly, proceed to phase 3. If not, repeat with another guesser for up to 5 attempts.

Phase 3: Scoring

  • Full match: The Host and correct guessers earn points based on the line used on the board.
  • No matches: No one scores.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when everyone has been the Host once. Whoever has the most points wins! In case of a tie, victory is shared. For longer games, use these variants:

  • Two turns as Host per player.
  • Play until someone reaches 30 points.

Tips to Win

  • As Host: Use characters with distinctive traits to make nonverbal clues easier.
  • As Guesser: Observe patterns in the intensity markers to cross-reference information between clues.

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Prefer the Official PDF? Download the official Pitaco rulebook or browse it online with our AI rules assistant.
View Rulebook PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about the rules

5 questions
What is the objective of Pitaco?
In Pitaco, players take on two roles: Host and Guessers. The goal is to guess the Secret Adjectives using only nonverbal clues given by the Host through Intensity Markers. The game lasts a number of rounds equal to the number of players. Whoever accumulates the most points by the end wins!
How do you set up Pitaco?
Place the Board in the center. Each player chooses a color and receives 10 Guess Cards and a Score Marker. Position the Score Markers on space 0 of the track. Arrange the yellow (A-E) and red (F-J) Letter Tokens in rows below the board. Shuffle the Adjective Cards and place one above each token. The player who watched a game show most recently will be the first Host and receives the 10 Intensity Markers.
How do you play Pitaco?
Each round has 4 phases: Determine Secret Adjectives: The Host draws one card of each color (yellow/red) to set the secret adjectives. Give Clues and Guess: Guessers choose a character, the Host places intensity markers, and everyone guesses simultaneously. Scoring: Points are awarded if someone guesses both adjectives correctly. End of Round: Prepare for the next round or end the game. Phase 1: Determine Secret Adjectives The Host shuffles their Guess Cards by color, draws one of each, and…
How does Pitaco end, and how do you score?
The game ends when everyone has been the Host once. Whoever has the most points wins! In case of a tie, victory is shared. For longer games, use these variants: Two turns as Host per player. Play until someone reaches 30 points.
What are some tips for winning Pitaco?
As Host: Use characters with distinctive traits to make nonverbal clues easier. As Guesser: Observe patterns in the intensity markers to cross-reference information between clues.
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